Getty
BARCELONA, SPAIN: Esteban Ocon of France and Renault Sport F1 looks on from the garage during Day Two of F1 Winter Testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
Getty
BARCELONA, SPAIN: Esteban Ocon of France and Renault Sport F1 looks on from the garage during Day Two of F1 Winter Testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
Esteban Ocon has been prepping himself up for the 2021 F1 season, where he will face the returning world champion, Fernando Alonso. Initial predictions claimed that Alonso would breeze past his young French teammate over the 2021 season.
However, that does not seem to be the case with Ocon. Despite the odds falling against him, Ocon is all set to give the Spaniard a really hard time in the newly born team, Alpine Racing.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
Ocon looking to beat Fernando Alonso
Speaking to Formula 1, Ocon opened up that he is ready to face his biggest teammate yet, who, despite missing out on a couple of seasons, is still pretty quick.
“I feel ready (to race against Alonso) and Fernando will be ready,” he said. “He will be a tough opponent, but I’m ready to face him. I’m ready to compete. I want to push him. That’s my target.”
Getty
Fernando Alonso of Spain and Renault Sport F1 poses for a photo with his 2005 F1 title-winning Renault R25 and members of the Renault team from the same year during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
2020 was a tough year for Esteban Ocon, as he was nowhere near his teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, throughout the season. The difference in points was massive, as the string of poor performance started to pile up more pressure over the French lad.
Thankfully, Ocon managed to catch a break at the business end of the season. The Sakhir Grand Prix came to the rescue of Ocon, as he managed to secure his first podium in F1. That weekend somehow boosted his morale quite a lot, as he drove brilliantly through the following race in Abu Dhabi as well.
Ocon optimistic to learn from the world champion
The Alpine driver will be racing alongside a world champion for the first time in his F1 career. And, therefore, he is looking to gain more experience by understanding how a champion works in a team.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how a world champion works, to see where he wants little details. The legend is back,” he said.
Getty
Fernando Alonso of McLaren and Spain immediately after his crash during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Peter J Fox/Getty Images)
As of now, on paper, Alonso‘s comeback is predicted to be a successful one. However, it is still a mystery as to how pacy Alonso is in reality. He is still uncovering the sheer pace that he carried in the late 2000s.
And Ocon will be aware of Alonso’s potential slow restart, as this could be his golden opportunity to beat a champion-winning teammate on the drivers’ tally.
Overall, amid the uncertainty revolving around Alonso’s form, which of the Alpine drivers do you think will wind up ahead by the end of 2021?
Read More: Fernando Alonso vs Esteban Ocon: Which Alpine F1 Driver’s Likely to Emerge Ahead?
